Engine starting apparatus



June 9, 1936. R. P. LANSING Er AL ENGINE STARTYNG FIARAHTUS Filed June 20,

1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...35,51 i'. Il

June 9, 1936- R. P. LANSING ET AL ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v i. s.\\\\\ A. im Wr ,El n@ me: "-n -n 1 m A Patented June 9, `1936` i Raymond P. raming, Musician, Nardone, East Orange, N.

` to Eclipse Aviation Corpomesne assignments,

and Romeo M. J., assgnors, by`

ration, East` Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey appunti@ Juneau, 1932, seriaifNo. 618,396

` 11 claims lol. `Lasa-179) This invention relates to "engine starting apparatus andmore patricularly to astarter of the inertia type` An objectof the invention is" to provide an engine starter of the type whereinasmall fly-4v wheel is rendered capable of exerting a.' comparatively great inertia effect through being en-` ergized tc a high speedof rotation and then drivA ably connected with an engine to be started,"

through a torque multiplyinglgear train and a i torque limiting clutch mechanism.` Suchtorque stationary, and

limiting clutch mechanism is subject to re1ative` ly high loa'ds requiring substantial wearing surface and high friction producingpressure, which is usually `applied by relatively `heavy spring means serving to maintain the clutchengaged at Extreme free running in the` a preset pressure. y disconnected or energizing period isessential, but it is difficult to `achieve where the clutch is preset in the manner just described, unless there is a normally open break in the transmission train, between the ilywheel and the preset clutch.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide such a normally open; break in the form of "friction elements movable radiallyinto operan-` tive position, in combination withga second` friction` clutch of the preset character above described. A feature ofl the invention in this connection is the provision of means constantly tending to release `said manually Vengaged friction` clutch, andminsuring" `disengagement thereof as soon as the engaging pressure is released. p `1.

` Another object of the invention isto provide a relatively small and compact `inertia starterjam plicable to a wide variety of engines including the types commonly encountered in the motor ve,- hicle art, in most of which the space available for 'installation of an engine-engaging member is limited. `Most automobile starters, whether for passenger vehicles or trucks, include a pinion adapted to mesh with alarge gear,

gagement of such a pinion is attempted at a relatively high speed, serious clashing may result. f

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is toprovide means whereby the starter mechanism may the pinion or other engine-engaging member is A the pinion then engaged atzero, 4or` at creeping velocities `with the engine, such 1 engagement being concurrent with the establishment of a` driving connection between the accelerated flywheel andsad pinion. A further object of'theinvention-istoprovide a m clutch operating mechanism embodying a resil- 1 integral with, or mounted on the engine flywheel, and when enbe brought up to full speed while tion clutch mechanismswitlr` the engine-engaging pinion,during the cranking operation, andpermitting the pinion to overrun when the engine starts.

` These and other objects oi' the invention will become apparent from inspection of the following specification when readwith reference to the ac`` companying drawings, wherein are illustrated two embodimentsof the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the lpurpose of `illustration only, and are notdesigned as a definition `of the limits or the invention, reference being had tothe appended` claims for this purpose.

In the drawings,-

Fig, n 1` is` a longitudinal sectional view of a device embodying thexinvention, the section being taken on line I-I or Fig. 2; V Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view` taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.v 1, butl on a re duce'dsale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional `view taken along the line 33ofFig.2; i Fig. 4 is an isometric view of one of `theclntch elements; and .7

Fig.` 511s a longi udinal section of another em` bodiment of theinventionl Referring to thedrawings, the embodiment therein shown consists of a Iourl-part casing, the first part of which encloses power @operated means, herein shown in the ,miorm oi an electric motor 6 for energizing the inertiaelement fof a starter, thel latter being shown at `1 in the second section 8 of the casing.` Section `9 is shown as coaxial with and of substantially the same `diameter as section 8 and is connectedthereto by suitable bolts H provided at corresponding intervals alongthe circumferential flanges I2 and Il, oi' the casing sections 8 and 9 respectively. A simii lar circumferential flange il is provided onthe tion 9. A second circumferential iiange I8 serves as the locating and mounting means by which the starter may be attached to the frame or crankcase 20 of the engine to be started, one of the rotatable members of which is indicated at 2| as'havlig teeth 22 adapted to be engaged by corresponding teeth 23 on the engine engaging member 24 of the starter, the latter being-slidably and rotatably received on a shaft 26, the outer end 21 of which is rotatably supported in a friction reducing sleeve bearing 28 located in the apertured supporting end 29 of the casing section I8.

As shown, the inertia element 1 has aI hub 32 drivably connected as by splines 33 with the armature shaft 34 ofthe energizing motor, the said armature shaft having a reduced outer .end 36 threaded to receive a retaining nut 31 for the bearing member 38 which rotatably supports certain parts to be presently described.V The bearing 39 in which the received in a suitable hub 4| in the transversely extending portion 42 of the casing section 8, while the outer race fof the bearing member 38 is heldin place by the retaining Washer 43 secured to the retaining cup 44 which is in turn .riveted or otherwise suitably secured, as indicated at 46, to a pair 'of cup-shaped elements or drums 41 and 48, andthus forms adriving connection therebetween.

'Ihe gearing forming the driving connection between the flywheel 1 and the flrst drum 41 is preferably composed of a plurality of planet pinions 5|, each mounted in a ball bearing 52, surrounding a corresponding number of mounting shafts, herein shown in the form of bolts 53 held in place by nuts 54 engaging the outer surfaces of theV apertured bosses 56 of a transversely disposed recess wall 51, the latter being held in place between the ange's |2 and 3 on the casing sections 8 and 9 respectively, by suitable means, as indicatedat 58. As shown, the planet pinions 5| mesh'with a sun gear or pinion 6| splined to the armature shaft 34 to rotate with the flywheel 1, and also mesh with an orbit gear preferably constituted by the formation of teeth on* the inner circumferential surface of the drum 41. i

, From the foregoing it is apparent that the ilywheel 1 may be accelerated to a highy speed, and the members 41 and 48 to a proportionately lower speed, through energization of the motor 6 and the driving connections above described. 'I'here remains to be described the novel means for transferring the energy thus stored in the flywheel 1 to the engine member 2|.

In both embodiments shown, the energy transfer is eifected through a plurality of radially mov-` able'eleinents 83-64, having convex frictional surfaces described about a common center coinciding with the axis of rotation of the drum 48, said elements 63-64 being lengageable with said drum upon outward radial movement in opposition to the action of the.tension springs 65-66 connecting their ends, as indicated best 4in Fig. 2 and thus tendingconstantly to hold said friction elements in the disengaged position in which function they are assisted by the counter-weights 15 secured to the clutch elements in such positions (as indicated best inv Fig. 4) that centrifugal force acts upon them in a direction imparting to them a leverage action which is oppositeto that of the elements 63-64, and thus prevents a premature engagement of the clutch. As shown,.the elements'63-64 have their lateral surfaces apertured and turned to form hubs shaft 33 is supported, is'

amazone 61-81' (Fig. 1) receiving friction reducing sleeves 68-68f and 89-89' through which extend bolts 10-1| respectively, on which the friction shoes 63-64 are adapted to rock in response to actuation of the manual control means to be described; 5 the bolts or mounting studs 1li-1| being threaded to receive the retaining means 12-12 for the shoes 63-64. 'I'he studs 10-1| also pass through openings appropriately provided in a plate or spider 14 rotatable on the reduced end 18 of a l0 centrally disposed shaft 11 supporting said spider and drivably connected by the means indicated at 18, to the outer retaining and abutment plate 19 of the preset friction clutch mechanism, now to' be described.v "E, 15

The-second clutch mechanism includes a plurality of (herein shown as two) annular friction discs 8|, one of which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured, as indicated at 82, to the abutment plate 19, and the second of which is simi- 20 larly secured to an annular plate 84. The discs 8| are held in assembled relation, and frictionally engage a driving plate mounted on the spider 14, the assemby being effected byvirtue of the engagement of the outer plate 84 with the out-A 25 wardly Vared circumferential edges 86 of thimbles 81 slidably mounted in correspondingly shaped recesses 88 in the retaining plate 19. Each thiinble houses a compression spring 9|, the pressure of which is adjustable by means of the screws 30 92, to place any Adesired preset pressure on the discs 8|,'and thus fix the torque transmitting capacity of the clutch."

The means .for drivably connecting the shaft 'n with the engine engaging pinion 24 inc1udes'35 suitable pinions 98 and 99, the former being drivably connected to the splined outer end |0| of the shaft 11, and the latter being similarly connected to the shaft 26 adjacent its inner end |02 which is rotatably received in a friction reduc- 40` ing sleeve bearing |03 mounted in boss |04 of the transversely disposed wall |06 of the casing section 9. A second and centrally disposed boss |08 is formed in the wall |06 and is shouldered as indicated at` |09 -and for receiving and 45 retaining. in proper axial relation, the bearing members-H2 and ||3 in -which the shaft 11 is rotatably received. A sleeve ||4 and a shoulder 8 andV pinion 98 also assist in properly locating these parts and the assembly isthen secured 50 in place by the attachment of the retaining nut ||8, threaded to the end |0| of the shaft 11.

. The one-way driving connection between the shaft 26 and pinion 24 preferably takes the form of arp'airl oi' interengaging elements 2| and |22, 55 the former constituting a sleeve splined to the shaft 28, andvhaving a flange |23, on oneface of which are provided ratchet teeth |20 adapted to co-act with corresponding ratchetteeth on the epposingraee of the element |22, the latter 60 being secured to the pinion 24 by virtue of the notched or toothed formation indicated at |25, which permits registry with the teeth of pinion 24 to which the member |22 is held against shoulders |30 on teeth 23, by peen- 65 ing over the edge of the pinion as indicated at |26. A coiled compression spring |21 having one end abutting the flange |28 of a sleeve |29 free on the sleeve |2| (after engagement of pinion 24 withmember 2|) acts to yieldably maintain the 70 ratchet teeth ofthe sleeve |2| in engagement with those of the element |22, while at the same time permitting sleeve 2| to withdraw sulciently to allow the pinion 24 to overrun the shaft 26 after the engine commences to nre, and thus acquires 75 a higher speed of rotation than thatof the shaft 28.` A `second compression spring |8| yieldably opposes the advance of the pinion 24 and pre- `vents theonft of thelatter "inte contact with, the teeth 22, whenthestarter is inoperative. t

` The novel control means for effecting the erigagement of` the one-way clutch-mechanism |22|28` and by the ,same action, the friction `clutchmechanism 88-84 with 48 preferably corn- `prisets`a`fyoke`w|88 embi'acir'ig` thesleeve |28 and adapted to press against` the flange |28 in, re-

Sponsers a thmst exerted by mutable means nz on `the outer end of a lever |84 mounted d,on a` rock shaft |88 `1in a like manner, and is provided to translatethe oscillation of the lever |84 into an axial motion of a plunger |878,` a compressible `spring I4|, and a clutch actuating pin |42, The

`flatter is preferably of conical formation at its inner end as indicated at |48, and engagescorrespondingly beveled surfaces on the plates |44- |48 (Fig. 3) secured to the lateralsurfaces 0f `the clutch elements 8,8-2-84, respectively. i t t Havingthus described the' partsentering into thel preferred embodiment `of thefinvention, as shown,` it will be seen that `the operation is as follows: t The motor 8 is first energized to accelerate the flywheel and drum 48 to the proper speedk,"where` upon the lever |84 is actuated in aclockwise digrection, to'mesh pinion 24 with the "enginegear 2| and then, through the action of the iinger |81 and plungers |89 and |42, cause the friction shoes 88-64 to contactwith the inner surface of the drum 48. Driving conneetionis thus established between the ywheel and the engine, anda multiplied torque is transmitted to the latter member through the clutch parts |22|28. In the event of failureiof the teeth of pinion 24 to effect immediatel entry into the spaces between the corresponding teeth of the engine member 2|, the completion of the clutch engaging action can be eilf'ected` nevertheless, since the spring" |21 can yield sulcientlymto permit the lever |84 to complete its swing. As the spring lllfacts tocauseiclutch elements 88--84 to grip the drum surface gradually, the resulting gradualacceleration of the elements connected therewith causes the pinion to be rotated sufnciently to relieve the abutting condition, whereupon the energystored inthe springl |21 becomes i effective to` snap the pinion into fullmeshfwitli` the gear 2|. As the friction elements 88` and 84 are accelerated to the speedof the driving drum` 48, their selfeenergizing qualities, derived from their shape, `mounting andrelative disposition,`

cause them to` `register snugly with the inner-sure face of the drum 48, thus increasing their torque Y transmitting` capacity tota value farin excess of the pointat which the discs `8| will slipon the plate 84 in the event of asuddenly ^acquired excessive load, asbackiire, for example.` t i When theengine starts under its own power, even though the operator ifs somewhat tardy in releasing the lever 434," there is nevertheless no drive transmittedback to the starter, for the ratchet teeth on member |22 may overrun the teeth |20 of the sleeve |2|, thus permitting the pinion lever |84 is released,

to overrun the shaft' 28. As soon as the the spring |8| is efiectiv'eto demesh the pinion 24, while springs |21 t at 288. shown, the t threaded at the slotted end to receive a corre- 251" `nut 228 as indicated at 48, 834-84, BS-ll, and` ,contemplated that i i constructionand relative arrangement of the i the eombmetin with ing member through actuation of said and |4| are effective to return theother parts to the normal positins indicated 1n Fig. 1.

Fig, shows a somewhat modified construction Vwher-"in `the lever 884 acts only upon a plunger l842 to s118986? thefriction elements 288-284 with the drum 248, the advance of the pinion 224 into mesnwith tneenzine member :i `being erected automatically in response to the driving connection thus established, As shown in Fig.. 5, in place of the shaft 28 `of'the preferred embodinient,l there` is substituted a shaft 228 having a coarsely'threaded portion 221 intermediate its ends, adapted to carry a correspondingly threaded nut 228 having peripheral notches for splines 228 corresponding in number and width to iingers, 28| formed by removing portions of one end of a` cylindriealwdrum or barrel 282, the opposite endjof which is turned inwardly as indicated at 288, and cut so to register with the teeth of the pinion 224 with which they engage, and towhich they are held by peening overthe end ofthe pinion as indicated drum ormbarrei 282V is spondingly threaded sleeve 288 which is inwardly turned to engage therear lateral surface of the 288, thus insuring, in conjunction withthe construction shownat 288 and that the teeth 284 `are adapted 284, above described, movement of the members 228,288, 282 and 224 as aunit, in either direction, except for the possibility of a limited amount of relative motion between theinembers 228 and 282,

such relative motion being yieldingly opposed by.35

that it constitutes part mechanism of the inertia type, which, due to its relatifely'` small size and compactness is inexpensive to manufacture `and operate; and is readily applicable to installations where the size of the casing surrounding the engine engaging niemberisnmited. t i

AWhile the construction herein illustrated is known to be of `considerable practical merit, itis changes may be made in the parts. Thuafork examplathe planetarygearing maybe changed or eliminated, andother iiywheel energizing means substituted for the motor herein suggested. Lik wisefother changes may be made inv theform, details of construction, ar-

rangementof partsand the uses to which they jre so applied, witneut departing from the spirit er the invention or the scope of the appended claims.`

"Whatisclaimedisi t .i 1.1m exif engine starting mechanism of the type `employing a member movable into engagee5 ment with a member of the engine -tofbe started, said engine member and engine-engaging member of manually operable means foreffecting engagement of `said members, driving means t and a friction clutch normally dismovable to engage said drivthereby, said clutch bemotion imparted thereto engaged from but ingdrum to be driven ingengageable by the forsaid members including a drive' Toi manually operable 15 means, and ratchet means connecting said clutch with said Aengine `'engaging member, said yratchet means being releasable only when the engine' member overruns the engine engaging member. 2. 'In' an engine 'starting mechanism of the type employing a driving shaft rotatably supporting an engine engaging member, the combination with saidengineengaging member of a ratchet driving connectionbetween said shaft and engine lengaging member, manually operable means for controlling said driving connection, and driving` means for said shaft including a prime mover and a normallyv disengaged clutch, said clutch being engageable by the motion imparted thereto through actuation of said manually operable means.'v '.v

3. Engine starting mechanism comprising a driven member adapted `to engage and crank an engine member, an inertia member,`.means for vrotating said inertia member to store energy thereimsaid driven member being disengaged lfromboth said engine member and said inertia member during the period oi' storageof energy in the latter, means including ra gear train, vand a clutch operable to drivably connect said inertia and driven members when engaged, a rod movable axially through a member 'of said gear train to engage s aid clutch, andmeans for concurrentlyproducing axial movement of said rod and driven member. f

4. Engine starting mechanism comprising an enginemember and -a drivenfmember adapted to engage and crank said Aengine member, an inertial member, means for rotating said inertia member to store energy therein, means including aI gear train Aand, a clutch operable 4to drivably eonnectsaidinertia member and said driven member when engaged, a rod movable axially through a member of said gear train to engage said clutch, a shaft disposed transversely of said rodl anddriven member, means for oscillating said shaft, and means mounted on said shaft ilorl translating the oscillatory movement thereof into an axialmovement of both said'rod and driven member.V i j 5. Engine starting mechanism comprising an enginememberand a driven'member adapted to engage and crank said engine member, an inertia member, me ans for rotating said inertia member to store energy therein, said 'driven memberf-being disengaged from both said engine member and said inertia member during the period of stdrage of energy in the latter, a clutch operable to drivably connect said inertia member and driven member when engaged,means movable along. an axis parallel to ythe axis of Y rotation 'of said driven member to engage said clutch, vand means adaptedto swing in the plane of said axesto produce concurrent movement oi' said axially movable means-and drivenmember.

6. Engine starting mechanism -comprising an engine member vand a driven ,member adapted to engage and cranksaid engine -member, van inertia memberymeans'for rotating said inertia member to storeienergy thereim' said driven member being `disengaged fromboth said enginev `member and said inertia `member during. the

period ofstora'ge of energy in -the latter, .means including a pair of drivably connected shafts disposed inparallelism, and a clutch operable to` `driven member with said enginemember, and 5 common control means for both said engaging means. l' Y 7. Engine `starting mechanism comprising an. engine member and av driven member adapted to engage and crank said engine member, an inertia member, means for rotating said inertia member to store energy therein, means` includ'- ing a pair of drivably connected shafts disposed in parallelism and a clutch operable to drivably connect said inertia member and driven meml5 ber whenengaged, means for engaging said driven member with said engine member, means movable along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of saidV ydriven member to engage said clutch, and common control means for said last named means and, driven member.

8. In apparatusof the class described an engine member, an electric motor havinga shaft, a iiywheel adapted to be driven bysaid shaft, means including a self-energizing clutch for transmitting torque from said flywheel to said engine member, a second clutch interposed be tween said' engine member and said first-named clutch for absorbing shocks and overloads, and

means slidably mounted within said second 304 clutch for moving said first named clutch into engaging position.

9. Inapparatus of the class described an engine member, an electric motor, a shaft adapted to be driven by said motor, a ywheel mounted on said shaft for rotary movement therewith, means including a plurality of friction clutches for transmitting power from said flywheel to said engine member, one of said clutchesvbeing normally disengaged,*means slidably mounted within the other'of said clutches'for rendering said normally disengaged clutch operative, and engine engaging means connected to the iirstnamed clutch.

10. Inapparatus of the class described an en-` gine member, an electricv motor, ashaftadapted to be driven by said motor, a flywheel mounted on said shaft for rotary-movement therewith, reduction gearing drivably connected to lsaid shaft, means including Va driven Vshaft adapted 50 to bev drivably connected to said engine member, aclutch interposed between said reduction gearing andsaid driven shaft, andnmeans laterally oifset from said driven shaft for. engaging said clutch. 55 11. In apparatus of theciass described, an elec- `tric motor having an extending shaft, a ywheel saine with Asaid engine member, resilient means fordisengaging said clutch, a rod laterally` offset rromsaid driven shaft for engaging said clutch and vmanually'operable means for actuating said rod. Y

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

ROMEO M. `NARDONE. 

